Well, today I was ready to climb Frary Peak (Antelope Island's highest point - I know 6595 is not a huge mountain but the 2000ft climb in 3.5 miles makes it a bit challenging.)
Got to the island, drove down the east side to the parking area .... and it was packed. Some Buffalo Run today; lots people heading up the trail; so I'm heading back down to road to walk the Sentry Trail.
On the way to the ranch, there is a good size herd of bison off the road --- returning to normal life after being penned up for over a week for their physicals.
I past the ranch and head down the dirt road to the small parking area for the Sentry Trail. I see bison near the trail. Nope, they're actually on the trail. I've walked past them (nervously) on this trail several months ago but at least they were grazing off the trail (except for 3-4 bison). But these guys are mostly on the trail. Ok, time for plan C -- and I'm not sure what that is....yet.
I turn my car around and start heading back down the dirt road -- shoot, there's a herd of pronghorn!! I've always seen them as solos or in pairs. They are paralleling the road going the opposite direction (not sure how I missed them before). Coincidently, I just read this morning that in the Fall, the pronghorn form harems and sure enough here it is! They are in a straight line marching south. They blend in with the dry grass. I turn my car around and head back to the parking area, get out and watch. They stop for a bit and look my direction;
I'm so hoping they don't run off. Then they return to their southward march.They cross the Sentry Trail in front of the bison.
Another car comes down the dirt road and continues south. This spooks some of the prongies and they start to run (and other keep plugging along). Now, that was pretty cool!!
I figure out my only option is the White Rock Loop Trail which is about 6 miles and is on the west side of the island (I've never been on this trail before so it should be fun). I drove north back up the east side of the island and then west/south towards the White Rock campground. I'm not sure where the trail parking is but I drive down the road thru the campground until I find a small parking area around for the trail -- there's a bigger parking lot for cars w/ horse trails. (Think I'll see any horses today??)
The trailhead is immediately south of Bison Point -- I actually have a cool pix during the winter toward White Rock Bay (just didn't know it until now :))
Its a loop trail so I decide to go clockwise. There are 3 bison off the trail to the right but they're far enough off that I'm not worried about them. The views to the west are great --- there's a very visible inversion layer over the lake (a clean inversion layer for a change).
I'm heading south following the shore (though I'm pretty far from the shore -- if I went counterclockwise, I'd be near the shore.) I start to climb and angling back towards the shore, and above the bison. After a good rocky viewpoint, the trail starts back to the east continuing up. The views to the north are incredible! And they get better with each step higher. Just golden grassland in the foreground, the lake, mountains in the background. I can clearly see the bison pens, bison point..... (but the lake to the west disappears).
As I get to what could be the "top", there are 2 bison just off the trail. There are flocks of birds hanging around them. And some of the birds decide the bison make a good perch.
I can now clearly see the east coast and White Rock Bay (on the west side). There is a beautiful plain in the middle. At about this point, I meet a group of boy scouts going the opposite direction. One of the leaders tell me that there is a herd of pronghorn on plains -- I'm 300-400 feet above the plains so I'll have to be patient.
I get to a bench where the views looking south, east and west are wonderful.
Beacon Hill is above me. Frary Peak (my original destination) is directly south - I can see the parking lot. White Rock Bay to the west. Great spot from a quick lunch (the pronghorn await).
I notice far below are 2 people heading in my direction but they stopped - I wonder if the pronghorn are close. I pull out the binoculars and see the people are looking west. I check west and there are pronghorn down there. Not marching like the others, just grazing. OK that ends lunch. I'll eat my cookies on the way down the hill.
I figured I'd meet the 2 people but I have no idea where they went. There was also a biker heading my direction, and they disappeared as well. Hmmmm... I get to where I saw the 2 folks were looking down the plains and it really isn't a good view to see anything but grass. So I continue. I find the biker below -- she was doing something with the bike. And I spot 2 people much further down the trail -- perhaps they turned around.
I'm heading back west down the valley toward White Rock Bay. And I'm looking for pronghorn. Yes, I finally spot the white backsides of the pronghorn. This herd is definitely larger than the ones earlier. But they are pretty far off. Definitely, grazing very slowly down the valley towards the water.
I can see 4 bison below and near the trail (I see people riding horses and bikes going past them). I continue down towards the bison.
There's a car heading up the dirt road -- not sure why anyone is driving on the trail. The car stops near the bison where 3 guys get out; 2 of which are taking bison pictures. They are still there as I arrive and I do my own picture taking because the setting is gorgeous.
One of the guys is a Trail Guide. The guide asks how far I hiked and I told him I'm just finishing up the loop (he's says I went the reverse direction -- pays to be different sometimes). I tell him about the pronghorn up the valley and the ones I saw near the Sentry Trail. He wanted to know #s; I'm sure he would be reporting them back at the station.
Just about a mile left of shoreline walking. Great views of Bison Point!
The 3 bison I passed at the start of the trail are still there. Two are laying down (afternoon nap I think) and the other is still grazing.
What a fantastic day!
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